Every adult gets angry sometimes. It’s a fact of life. Sometimes we’re just in a bad mood and something that’s not really a big deal sets us off. Other times, our anger is completely justifiable. Some of us have a short fuse, while others rarely lose their temper.
Children aren’t immune to anger, either. Anger is, after all, a completely natural emotion especially for child development. Our job as parents is not to prevent our children from ever getting angry. In order to do that, we would have to cater to their every whim, and that would be doing them a disservice. Our job is to teach them how to properly manage their anger. Here are five ways we can do that.
1. Set a good example. When you find yourself getting angry, strive to handle your emotions in an appropriate manner. Yelling, screaming and getting violent aren’t things we want our children to do when they get mad, so it’s important that we don’t do them, either. Calm yourself down in a way that you would want your child to calm down when angry, and he will usually emulate your actions.
2. Talk to your child about his feelings. When you see that he is angry, ask him to explain why. Sometimes it might be such a silly reason that by the time he gets done explaining it, he will realize that there’s nothing to be angry about. If he does feel that he has a right to be angry, talking it out will help him calm down and find a solution to the problem.
3. Encourage your child to let his anger out in an acceptable manner. When we’re really mad, sometimes we just need to release some of that negative energy before we can move on. Your child could hit a pillow, run laps around the house, or pound on some Play Doh for a while.
4. For children who are old enough to write, a journal can be helpful. When they get mad, they can write about their feelings. Once they’re down on paper, it’s easier to work them out rationally and let them go.
5. Sing with your child. Singing might be the last thing he wants to do when he’s angry, but it can help diffuse the rage. Help him make up a song about being angry, and have him sing it when he’s upset. This provides an appropriate outlet for his feelings and lightens the mood a bit so that you can effectively work out the problem.
Seeing our children angry can be difficult. But it’s important not to give in just to calm them down. Teaching them how to deal with anger will serve them much better in the long run.
After the upheaval of a move, it’s important to take some time to settle in. Children especially may need help coping with the major changes of moving. There are some things you can do to make it easier on the whole family and for child development. Here are some suggestions.
1. Get the children’s new rooms ready first
Have a box marked with your children’s special toys, and unpack those immediately in the child’s new room. Move the big furniture in and unpack their bedding and other bedroom accoutrements first, and get the room set up right away. Then, your children can occupy themselves with some of the fun details, such as unpacking their other toys, finding places for things, and so forth. Let them decide some of the details about the room, such as where their toy box will be or what color you are going to paint the room.
2. Plan a “new house party”
Yes, it’s another thing to plan, but in the end it can help lift some of the stress. Tell the children about the party and let them help you plan it. Have a picnic among the moving boxes or out in the yard, or pick up food from their favorite restaurant. You could even pick up a cake or box of cupcakes for a celebratory treat.
3. Get to know the people who will be a part of your children’s lives
Many of us are too busy to get to know our neighbors, but it’s a necessity if you are moving to a new area with your children. Introduce your children and exchange contact information, and encourage play dates with new kids.
Your children’s teacher will be a very important influence, so visit the new school and arrange a meeting with the teacher before the first day of class. If possible, establish contact with the school and teacher before the move.
4. Keep some routines where possible
Children love routine, and nothing disrupts it quite like a move. Try to maintain some of the family habits, such as movie or board game night, and try to establish a daily routine similar to the one in your old house. Go to bed and get up at the same time as usual, and don’t try to stay up late unpacking. It also helps to prepare the same sort of foods in the same way - “comfort food” is comfortable for a reason: it’s familiar!
5. Relax and don’t be in a rush
Of course you want to be unpacked and settled as soon as possible; but slowing down and taking the time to talk, creating a calm atmosphere and establishing comfortable routines will make things easier in the long run. If your moving boxes are clearly labeled, you can unpack what you need right away and take your time with the rest.
A significant part of preparing your home for a foster child care is preparing yourself. A prospective foster parent must prepare his or her heart to deal with the sacrifice, the pain (sometimes foster children have truly tragic stories), and the joy.
It’s also important to see to it that the child is comfortable in his or her new foster home. Of course, if you are prepared mentally and emotionally, that adds greatly to the child’s comfort. There are some practical things, too, that you can do to make the foster home a place of refuge and love.
* Know your state’s requirements
Much of the physical aspects of your home - types of toys, sleeping accommodations, etc. - are determined by the state. An inspector or case worker will come to your home and determine whether it is suitable for a foster child, looking for proper safety measures (such as smoke alarms), number of bedrooms (some states require a separate bedroom for each foster child), etc. It will make the process go a lot more smoothly if you find out your state’s requirements ahead of time.
* A welcoming home
Besides state regulations, you probably want your home to project a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. Try to keep the household quiet on the day of the foster child’s arrival. Let your children know they will need to be quiet and calm, but not stifled. Make sure the house is free of clutter which can be overwhelming to a child who is already feeling traumatized. If you have pets, especially big dogs, put them outside or in a separate room at first.
* Put valuables away
Keep any “tempting” items, such as jewelry, electronics, or other valuables out of sight. As you adjust to this new child and discover his strengths and weaknesses, you will learn where you can relax the rules and where you need to tighten them up.
* The child’s own space
Remember that a foster child is going through something traumatic, and may have known little but trauma for most of her life. She will need a space of her own where she can go to process her thoughts and feelings when she feels overwhelmed. Prepare this special space, most likely a bedroom, by making it welcoming and peaceful - a comfortable chair, a neatly made bed, some books, and maybe some stuffed animals. Quiet, soft toys are a good place to start.
* Preparing your other children
Of course there will be a period of adjustment, and some bumps along the road are to be expected. To prevent any big set-backs, though, it is a good idea to prepare your children for the foster child. Let them know how things are going to be different, and why you are taking a foster child in to your home.
The whole family can participate to make the fostering experience a joyful and rewarding one for everyone involved.
Foster parenting requires willingness to sacrifice and a genuine love for abused and neglected children. If you are considering becoming a foster parent, bear in mind that it is a big commitment to child development but one with great rewards as well. This article discusses some of the important aspects of foster parenting, and addresses some of the questions commonly asked by prospective foster parents.
What does it mean to foster children?
Fostering is not the same as adoption. When you foster a child, it is understood from the beginning that your home is a temporary refuge while the child’s biological parents try to straighten out their lives and become responsible parents. Foster parents are in the unique position of giving love and attention to a child as if that child were their own, but need to be able to give that child up to a permanent home when the time comes. That can be a difficult sacrifice to make.
What kinds/ages of children are fostered?
Foster children range in age from newborn to 17 years of age, and encompass all genders, races, and backgrounds. Thus, there is quite a variety in the sorts of children foster parents can have in their home, although most foster parents specify what sort of child they feel most able to foster.
How long does a child stay with the foster parents?
This is quite variable, and depends a great deal on the state of the biological parents. There are cases of children being fostered for only a few weeks, during which time the child’s biological parents get their lives in order so as to be fit parents. Other times, a foster parent may have a child for years and may even adopt that child. Generally, a foster parent reserves the right to have a child removed for any reason, or to refuse to accept a child for any reason.
How is the existing family affected?
The whole family is involved in creating a “foster family” - thus, everyone needs to be committed to the fostering process. If there are any family members who are not on board with the concept of welcoming children into the home and caring for them, then it would not be a good idea to try to become a foster family. The existing family, after all, will be asked to share space and toys and time, and children will need to share their parents’ time.
There can be no doubt that foster parenting requires sacrifice and dedication. But like so many things of that nature, the rewards are great and so is the joy. Parenting, after all, is not about what we get out of it; it is what we give to it that makes it rewarding.
It’s often been said “Laughter is the best medicine.” If you’re having a bad day, surround yourself with people who are having a good time, and before long your bad day will be a thing of the past. Humor is important especially for child development; it’s one way to get the fun back into your life and help you feel good.
There are many benefits of having a good sense of humor and laughing each day. Laughter, when it’s shared between friends and family, can actually improve your relationship. It can also have a domino effect by being contagious. All you need is for one person to begin laughing and others will soon join in the fun. Laughing actually triggers physical changes in the body which means there are health benefits of humor as well as emotional ones.
The health benefits of humor and laughter include reducing the effects of stress, lessening the sensation of pain, and giving you a boost of energy. You can also expect to feel better emotionally after laughing, particularly if the laughs were deep, sustained belly laughs. Laughter can also boost your immune system which could keep your entire body healthier.
Some experts believe laughing can be as good for you as exercise. In fact, some experts think of laughter as jogging for the inside of the body. The good thing about laughter is that you don’t need any special equipment, don’t have to pay for classes, and it can be enjoyed anywhere. Best of all, it’s free!
Humor and laughter reduce stress. You can’t be stressed out if you’re laughing; it’s simply impossible. When you laugh the body releases endorphins which help reduce stress. It also improves your mood which can have a large part to play in how stressed you feel. Laughter relaxes your muscles and can help you remain happier for up to 45 minutes after the laughter stops.
How do you get humor back into your life if it seems to be non-existent? There are a number of things you can do.
* Start with a smile. Smiling, like laughter, is contagious. If you’re already smiling it will be much easier for you to break into laughter. Think about something pleasant or enjoyable. Then when something does or says something silly or funny, you’ll be laughing with them before you know it.
* Move toward laughter whenever you hear it. In most cases, if someone is laughing loud enough for others to hear them, it’s unlikely they’ll be upset if you come near. You can actually ask people, “what’s so funny,” and they’ll likely tell you so you can join in the fun.
* Spend time with people who are fun to be with. Children are great for being able to laugh easily. Some adults can easily laugh at themselves or at funny things that happen around them. When they start laughing, it’s easy to get caught up in the joy, too.
* Watch older comedies that you found funny in the past. Some of the newer comedies simply aren’t as funny as they’d like us to believe. Find comedies that make you laugh and enjoy them regularly.
You may have heard the song lyrics “Money makes the world go around.” That may be partially true. However, you may want to try humor instead. Learn how to get fun back into your life and feel good by laughing every day.
“Pretty is as pretty does” and “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” are common sayings which talk about a woman’s looks. Depending upon where you live, you may have heard similar sayings. So if the outward appearance isn’t what’s most important, can you learn how to appreciate inner beauty especially for child development?
There are some women who may never be considered to be a “classic” beauty, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be considered to be attractive. Every woman won’t be a super model but when you really think about it, wouldn’t the world be a boring place if everyone was stunningly beautiful? Here are some ways you can learn to appreciate your inner beauty rather than fixating on the outward appearance.
* Define what inner beauty is to you. Is it having integrity above all else? Does it equate with being a good listener or having compassion for those that are hurting? Can it be said you have inner beauty if you’re able to see the good in others or if you have a great sense of humor?
* Whatever inner beauty consists of to you, determine to work on those areas of your personality. Develop your sense of justice, compassion, or the ability to listen and truly hear what others are saying.
* Think about how you can make yourself more attractive, but don’t rely on your outer appearance to help you get by in life. Do your best to dress neatly, have your hair styled in an appealing way, and think of how you want to be treated by others. Even if you’re not considered beautiful by society’s standards, you can still be attractive.
* Another common saying you may have heard is that the “eyes are the window to the soul.” If you’re unsure of yourself or don’t feel good about yourself, it’s unlikely you’ll look into the eyes of another person. What do you see when you look into another’s eyes? Are the alive with confidence and mischief or lacking energy and distant?
* Do your best not to make disparaging comments about others’ appearance. There really is more to a person than what you see on the outside. If this is true for others, it’s also true for you.
* Show others that you care about them. Encourage them to be the best they can possibly be. Cheer them on when they’re struggling. And no matter what you look like on the outside, you will have the type of character traits which will make you appealing and desirable to be around.
Make it a point to spend time with others who appreciate their inner beauty as well as those of others. Develop a good attitude.
Dogs are often called man’s best friend. This may be partially true; however, that doesn’t mean they are a child’s best friend. In fact, some children are afraid of them. If this describes a child you know, you can use these smart ways of helping child development by overcoming the fear of dogs. Despite the fact they’re animals, dogs can be very similar to humans.
You can tell when a dog is being playful or when they want to be left alone. Some dogs even smile at you because they’re happy to see you. When it comes to helping your child overcome the fear of dogs, it’s a good idea to begin by teaching them to read dog behavior. If your child is afraid of dogs, take them to a pet store. They will have puppies and dogs for the child to look at but they stay behind a glass where the child and animal are safe. This will allow your child to see the animal without fear of being hurt. Don’t try to force your child to pet an animal. They may have good reason for their fears. Let them watch dogs from a distance.
This will allow them to see how dogs interact with other children and adults. It will help them to recognize when there is danger and when there is not. After they become comfortable seeing the animal from behind the glass, ask if you can see one of the calmer animals. The sales person will bring dog into an enclosed room where you can get to know the animal. They will remain with you and will be able to help protect your child. They may also have some more ideas for helping your child overcome their fear of dogs. Teach your child that when a dog is wagging its tail or its whole body, there usually is nothing to fear except if the dog inadvertently knocks the child down. Explain to the child that the dog is being friendly and that it means them no harm. This can be especially important if your child has been bitten or nipped at before. On the other hand, if a dog comes running toward them with their ears back and barking, the child is fully justified in being scared. The child needs to know to stand still rather than run, however.
Running may be an automatic response, but running will only encourage the dog to chase the child. Helping your child recognize the difference between a dog that’s friendly and one that’s not can make all the difference in the world as to how they respond to them. When being introduced to a new dog, have your children follow these steps: * Stand still; let the dog sniff at them. * Let them look to you for cues as to whether the dog is friendly or not. * After they become comfortable, or at least less uneasy with the dog being near them, teach them to hold out the back of their hand for the dog to smell. * Finally, when they’re ready, tell them to move slowly and then gently pet the dog on the back of the neck or the head.
It is possible to help a child overcome their fear of dogs. These smart ways may give you information you need to help your child. If you’re still unsure about introducing your child to dogs, ask a veterinarian or your child’s pediatrician for more ideas.
This child education article is a fascinating study of the extinct animals that once inhabited our planet. Read all about these animals from the not so distant Caspian Tiger, which went into extinction around the 1970s; to the Sea Cow, which disappeared from the Bering Sea. What we need to understand is that all through time, man in quest of advancement has been the cause of the extinction of the different species of animals, flora and fauna.
The twentieth century has probably seen the most extinction due to degradation of the natural habitat of animals and plants, overexploitation, human induced climate changes and human borne infections and diseases. The 21st is doing its best to outdo the damage done in the previous century.
Some of the more rare extinct animals can be classified as follows:
The Caspian Tiger was once found in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Mongolia and surrounding countries and was also referred to as the Persian tiger. It was the third largest of the species with a stocky body, strong legs, wide paws and unusually large claws, with a furry growth resembling a beard around the cheeks. In color the Caspian tiger was similar to the Bengal tiger. Varying reports claim the tiger went into extinction around 1950 to 1970; there have been reported sightings that have not been proven. This species has been systematically eradicated with Russia playing a major role in their extinction due to their major land reclamation plans. Deforestation and intensive hunting drove the Caspian tiger further and further from their habitat until they reached the mountains and certain extinction.
Most of us have probably never heard of the Irish Elk or Giant Deer, one of the largest of the deer species to inhabit the earth. Carbon dating places its extinction around 7-8 thousand years ago. The species was characterized by their distinctive antlers that were truly huge in size. Recent research indicates that large amounts of calcium and phosphate were required to form the antlers, which the animals met from their bones, leading to a condition similar to osteoporosis in the animal. Probably human presence and a decrease in their natural habitat led to their disappearance.
Extinct animals includes the non-threatening, passive sea cow found in the Bering Sea was discovered by Georg Steller and is commonly referred to as Steller’s Sea Cow. This animal weighed a massive three tons and was much larger than a dugong or manatee, and looked like a very large seal. It lived only in water never touching land and was completely tame. The most likely explanation for its disappearance is probably human presence.
Striving to be a good parent in a difficult world full of trials and temptations is a daunting task especially for child development. What qualities should a good parent possess is a question well worth the asking. Read this article to get some valuable input on how to be a better parent in trying times. Maybe you are a single parent struggling to raise a teenager on your own or you may be an overworked parent trying to raise tiny children. The qualities you will need to possess remain the same with few adjustments as the years roll by.
Read on to find out what mothers the world over consider as the answer to the question, “what qualities should a good parent possess.”
Patience with a capital “P” heads the list. You are going to have to call upon hitherto untapped resources to find the patience to deal with day to day circumstances that arise when raising children.
Let your children know how much you love them and never be backward to demonstrate the love you have for them. This will teach them to express their feelings and emotions and help them grow into caring individuals.
Pay attention to what your children are trying to tell you. Listen without judging and try to understand the reasons behind their actions. Talk to them without getting angry and frustrated and they will talk back to you. Your children need to feel confident in coming to you with their problems; they need a listening ear and someone to guide them when they go off track. If you rant and rave you will only succeed in pushing them away from you and you can bet they are not going to come to you when in a crisis.
Make time for your children, set aside family time that is totally devoted to them. Take the time to get creative when planning family activities and make sure that you include their personal favorite activities as well. Every one is always busy and has plenty to do but that will not work as an excuse. Your children need and deserve your attention – give it to them!
Treating your children with respect means they will in turn respect you, your authority and your decisions. While they may not always agree with your decisions, especially when it restricts television or telephone talk time, they will respect what you say. This is the best way to encourage obedience.
Learning to laugh and stay cool in situations where you would rather explode is an excellent quality to have. This provides a calm and stable environment for the children.
Keep personal disagreements with your spouse separate from the children and never interfere when one parent is doing the correcting. Time enough to discuss it with your partner behind closed doors if you do not agree with something.
When you consider what qualities should a good parent possess, the list is seemingly endless. Hopefully this article will help you get started.
Parenting in today’s world is probably one of the most difficult tasks of all. What is the role of a parent especially for child development? Where do you draw the line on authority? Who does what in their role as parents? What are your responsibilities as a parent? Parents today need all the help they can get and this article seeks to answer some of the more baffling questions that plague modern day parents.
What is the role of a parent in the old fashioned context was for the father to take on the authoritative role of provider and protector and the mother to nurture. We would be hard pressed to maintain this concept in a society such as ours. Both parents work and more often than not single parenting seems to be the norm.
Children need to know and accept that parents are in charge. Raise your children on love and teach them the art of respecting people. Honesty, truthfulness, sincerity are virtues you can inculcate in your child with the right kind of upbringing. Teaching your child morals and values in life is not something that is picked up as your child grows, rather something that is taught from the knee high stage onward.
What is the role of a parent? It certainly isn’t a dictator! Authoritative parenting requires parents to be firm in raising children, rearing them on love and warmth, teaching and guiding, avoiding harsh discipline and being clear in what they expect from the child, yet flexible when necessary. In order to be a good parent you have to walk a fine line between overindulging and overbearing in your treatment of children.
Families that make the effort to have family time sessions, share information, fun and laughter at mealtimes, and participate in the decision making will continue to strengthen the bond that binds. There is a very popular saying, “Families that pray together, stay together.” I would like to stretch that to include those families that share and care build an interdependency and oneness that continues to grow over time. Treat your children with respect and they will learn to respect you. If you have older children, involve yourself in their lives without intruding. Smaller children are easier to manage, get them involved even in your shopping activities and weekly cleaning and you will find they make willing helpers.
Children need to feel loved and wanted and that is the main focus of what is the role of a parent in a child’s life.
Children’s growth and child developmentdepend very much on the foods they are fed and the benefits of healthy eating for kids is detailed in this article to alert parents to the dangers of neglecting this aspect of the child’s development. Balanced, nutritious meals are a must for every growing child because the benefits transcend into adulthood. Poor diet leads to obesity and a host of medical and psychological problems for the child.
For those of us not aware of it there is a good guide pyramid, which can help us better understand the different food groups. All of our food is divided into grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meats, beans, poultry, fish and nuts. Your child gets a balanced diet when all the food groups are covered. There are some groups where the intake needs to be lesser than the others, such as the oils and meats.
The benefits of healthy eating for kids will not be felt if you blindly follow the food groups. For example an apple in its natural state will do more for your child’s well being and overall good health than an apple pie with sugar would.
For children to develop healthy eating habits the parents will need to lead by example. It is always advisable to start a child out eating right from a very small age because this becomes habit forming. You should never put a child on a restrictive diet without the approval and supervision of a pediatrician. Overweight children go through quite a lot of trauma as a result of their size and all of this can be avoided if the parents take onus for ensuring that the children eat the right kinds of healthy nutritious foods they need.
Given below are some ideas on how to draw on the benefits of healthy eating for kids:
• You can guide your family’s choices by doing the shopping right; never dictate it will not go down well. Make sure your home has plenty of healthy foods like fruit and vegetables, yoghurts and dips that you can turn into healthy meals and snacks for the family. Don’t stock up on crisps and other junk food no matter how attractive the packaging and how easy it makes the shopping, to simply load up the trolley with a bunch of pre-packaged foods for kids.
• Make mealtimes a family affair with a lot of happy talk and exchange of ideas. This will help children to eat more slowly. Gobbling food will not help a child differentiate between a full and overfull stomach. When there is fun and laughter at the table you will find your children wanting to stay put and take the meal at a slow pace.
• Take your children with you when you go shopping and when you prepare meals as much as possible. Take the time to learn about their preferences and use the opportunities to teach them about the importance of nutrition and the benefits of healthy eating for kids.
• It is no secret that children enjoy snacking between meals and plenty of low fat milk and fruit should be the healthy alternatives. Try to avoid over eating at any cost. Always remember that what you don’t have at home your children cannot eat – so throw out the junk food!
Exercising and being active goes hand in glove with eating right so make use of this article to better understand the benefits of healthy eating for kids.
It’s a well known fact – growing children love to snack! Making fun healthy kids snacks will provide your children with fillers between meal times that are healthy and nutritious for child development.
While it is very easy to hand a bag of potato chips to your child to munch on, it will not give the child any nutritional value. Too much fast food, oily foods and over eating have led to a huge problem of overweight children across the country. As parents we have to take control of our children’s eating habits and steer them on the right path to eating foods that provide the nutrition the body needs to grow healthy and strong.
Children get hungry very quickly and if you have trained your child to eat right from a very young age you will not have any problem in getting them to eat the right kinds of snacks. Every growing child is going to need fillers between meals and it is better to train a child to eat smaller portioned meals more often. Healthy snacks are good fillers and can consist of fruits and other whole grain snacks that will add value to the growing body.
Supermarkets are inundated with kids snacks in exciting packages and oh so easy to just dump a few in the trolley and move on. Time savers indeed! These processed foods contain plenty of sugar that is not good for anybody. You can make eating fruit a lot more fun by blending it into yoghurt that makes for a very tasty snack. Alternatively you can also serve the child a fruit platter with a bowl of flavored yoghurt as a dip. Another alternative to getting your child to eat more fruit is to make fruit popsicles – goes down great on a summer day. Fruit smoothies are really very popular among children and can be made from low fat milk, yoghurt and fresh fruit. Your child gets the dual health benefits from fruit and low fat dairy products together. You can make up combinations of fresh vegetables and exciting dips or put low fat peanut butter on whole grain crackers. All of these ideas make for healthy snacks that are going to fill your child up in more ways than one with the goodness of nutrition.
When we are busy rushing around between work, the kids and home with barely a minute to breathe, it is very difficult to think nutritious when easy is all that comes to mind. However, every parent is urged to find the time to make up a list of fun healthy kids snacks based on the preferences of the child. Make a conscious effort to shop right; if you don’t have it in the house the child is not tempted to eat it!
If you take the time to consider your options to provide fun healthy kids snacks you will be pleasantly surprised, there is quite a list of possibilities ranging from fruit, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, muffins, yoghurt, granola and so much more. Make the time – your child’s health depends on the food you feed him or her.
Maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids is of paramount importance in today’s world of overabundance of fast food, television and computers. There is a serious problem of obesity in children the world over, as more children give up active outdoor activities to sit in front to televisions and computers. The easy availability of fast food, soft drinks and microwave meals does not help either. The backlash from obesity comes in the form of medical and psychological hazards that are putting our children at risk!
As parents we have a responsibility towards maintaining a balanced healthy diet for kids to help prevent childhood obesity. To do this the parent needs to ensure that the child consumes foods that will provide nutrition and help maintain a healthy weight. Beverages can also greatly increase calorie intake, so it is best to try to limit the amount of soft drinks consumed and promote water as a healthier alternative.
Parents are encouraged to find new and interesting recipes and to make foods that provide nutrition and the right amount of calories as attractive and appealing as possible. Some of the healthy foods on the food pyramid include: fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, low fat dairy products, lean meats, fish, poultry, beans and lentils. You can reduce portion sizes so that they are reasonable instead of unlimited, and pour out water for your family as an alternative to unhealthy soft drinks. The consumption of refined sugar and saturated fats should be controlled.
Parents will need to bring all of their ingenuity into play to find ways to promote a balanced healthy diet for kids, which is both nutritious and attractive. A heap of greens on a plate is far from appealing and of course your kid is not going to want to eat it! The internet is filled with recipes for new ideas to make dishes more nutritious and balanced with vegetables and even fruits. A macaroni and cheese diet is easy to throw together and will fill your child up but will it provide the nutrition needed?
Team up with the mother’s in your child’s play group to trade ideas on how to get children to eat the food that is good for them, trade recipes and plan play activities. What you need to be aware of is that simply eating right is not enough; your child needs an active lifestyle as well. You can also balance diet by ensuring that the appropriate amount of physical activity is engaged in to strengthen bones, reduce blood pressure and stress and help with weight management.
You have to be firm and remove all those calorie rich temptations from your fridge. If children see ice cream and chocolate and all those yummy things every time they stick their heads in the fridge, how much resistance do you think there will be to the temptation to gorge? A very good idea for a dessert is yoghurt filled with fruit; peaches, berries, mango in yoghurt make for a naturally sweet dessert that is really enjoyable.
Ensuring a balanced healthy diet for kids is every parent’s responsibility and one that needs to be taken very seriously.
Listen in to the conversations you hear at the grocery store. You may hear one mother complain that her children often say “I want this” or “I want that.” Another parent may mention that they’re tired of how many different directions their family runs on a daily basis. Whether your family has the “I wants” or is rarely together, you may want to consider the advantages of family volunteering for child development.
One of the many advantages of family volunteering is having your family work on a project together. Not only can you spend time with one another, but you help someone who is less fortunate than yourselves. If you look at it like that, it’s a win-win situation.
Perhaps your family is concerned about the environment. You can probably find environmental projects you can do in your own area. Call the local city park to see if they need help. They may ask you to help pick up litter, plant trees or flowers in flower beds, or place markers to identify the trees along a walking trail.
Another family volunteering activity you can do is to work at a soup kitchen or center for homeless people. They have to feed those staying at the shelter every day so they’d probably be thrilled to have someone come to the center to help cook, serve, or clean up after meals. Many people consider helping during the holidays but there are needs at these shelters and centers all year round.
Is anyone in your family handy with tools? You may want to volunteer as a family to work on a Habitat for Humanity home or some similar project. If you get involved when the project first starts and see it through completion, your family can feel proud of a job well done and see the joy on a deserving family’s face when they are handed the keys to their new home.
What are some other advantages to family volunteering?
* You’re teaching your children about giving to others rather than always asking for something.
* Volunteering allows children to become involved in their community in a tangible way.
* It teaches your family to become stronger, promotes positive values, and teaches them how to work as a team.
* Having your children volunteer while they’re young will probably encourage them to continue volunteering as an adult. They may even pass the volunteering tradition onto their own children.
* Family volunteering can be a lot of fun!
Bring your family together by volunteering. You can strengthen your family, have fun, and benefit others in the process.
Parents often have busy lives which require them to juggle more than one task at a time. This is no different for homeschooling parents and child development. If you’re thinking about homeschooling your children, you may wonder how to balance your daily life as a homeschool mom. It is possible and these tips can help you.
Some families handle day-to-day life by creating detailed charts or schedules for each family member. They know what time breakfast is, how long to plan for each homeschool subject, what time they’ll eat lunch every day, how much free time they have, and when they’ll eat dinner. However, there’s no reason to believe this type of scheduling is necessary in order to balance your daily life as a homeschooling family.
Other families are opposite of the ones described above. They live life by the seat of their pants. They don’t plan elaborate schedules but prefer to take life as it comes. They may keep a calendar so they know about important appointments or events, but that’s as close as they get to a schedule. For them, living life one day at a time is about experiencing life as it happens rather than depending upon a piece of paper to dictate when they do things.
Does this mean that one method of balancing daily life is better than the other? Of course not! Part of the benefit of homeschooling is learning what works best for your own family. This may take time and some trial and error, but you will soon find yourself falling into a routine of sorts that is best for you.
Create an area in your home where you have access to good books and music. Having good resources around gives your child someplace to turn when they want to learn something. And the benefit is if they are interested on their own, they’re learning without realizing it. This method is often referred to as delight-driven or “unschooling.” It enables children to learn what interests them and allows Mom to be able to concentrate on taking care of the home rather than sitting with the child while they learn. Of course, even homeschooling moms know it’s important to be available when their child needs help, but they don’t feel obligated to remain right there with them.
Use real life events to help your child learn. If you’re cooking dinner, have your homeschooled child help you determine how much milk is needed if the recipe calls for one-third cup of something but you’re tripling the recipe. When you plan a trip to the grocery store, have your child write out the list of items needed. Then, while you’re walking through the store, have them help you determine which box potatoes is cheaper based on the cost and number of ounces are in the box. Both of these activities teach your child how math is important for daily life.
Get your children to help you with household duties. They can learn how to cook, sort clothing, do laundry, and stack dishes in a dishwasher. Not only will they be learning skills which will be helpful for their future, it will also make your job easier; you can also count the time they’re learning those skills as home economics - whether they’re boys or girls.
There are many things to can do to balance your daily life as a homeschool mom. Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. Let your partner work with your children on some of the subjects you feel uncomfortable teaching. Have your children help you with household duties. After some time you will be able to find what works best for your family so your life is more or less balanced.
Millions of families around the world enjoy the love of a pet. No matter what type of animal they have, pets add so much to their lives. Unconditional love is only one reason to choose a pet. Learn how to adopt a pet so you will be prepared when it comes time to add your own to your family. And when you feel ready to look for pets for kids, adoption is one the options you have.
Obviously you can find breeders and purchase an animal from them. But, why not save the life of an animal that is no longer wanted but still has plenty of love to share? There are animal shelters, humane societies, and rescue groups around the country who would love to offer one of their pets for your consideration.
Look in your local telephone book to see if there is a shelter where you live. You may want to find pet nearby, but you can also look in larger cities; they will most likely have a larger variety of animals to choose from. Another place to look is at pet stores, Freecycle groups, Craigslist, or local newspapers. There’s no limit to the number of advertisements you’ll find.
Think about the commitment you can make. Dogs require someone to walk and play with them as well as feed and love them. Cats are more solitary but they do need someone to feed them, change their litter, and love them – on their own terms, of course! Fish, reptiles, and rodents require less care, so consider this when you decide which animal is best for your family.
Know which type of animal you prefer – dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, or bird. If you or your family have a preference, call around to see who has that type of animal available. There’s no need to visit a shelter or pet store if they don’t have the type of animal you want.
Take time to visit each shelter or rescue area during business hours. You don’t have to make a decision on an animal during your first visit. Choosing a pet is serious business; there’s no need to rush into a relationship which could last many years depending upon the pet you want.
Depending upon the animal you decide to get and where you get them, they will most likely have a thorough veterinarian examination prior to their adoption. The shelter, pound, or pet store may also give you a certificate toward a first-time veterinarian visit after you take them home. You may have to sign an agreement to have cats or dogs spayed or neutered if you get them while they’re young or they haven’t already been altered.
When you look at the animals which are available, you want to find one that is lively, eager for attention, and playful. If you choose a dog, you may want to pay close attention to how they respond to members of each sex and see if they shy away from one or another.
Now that you know how to adopt a pet, what are you waiting for? There are many animals looking for a forever family. They need someone to love them - are you ready for the job?
Children and teens have attended public schools for years as a means to receive an education. Some children, however, don’t learn well in that system. For parents whose child struggles in traditional schools for child education, they may choose to homeschool their children or search for other alternative schools for them.
One alternative approach to education many families choose is Montessori. This method is based upon the scientific studies of Dr. Maria Montessori of Italy, who saw that children will learn naturally without assistance from adults by interacting with their surroundings. Schools are set up with various objects which enable the children to use their senses to learn. There may be a kitchen area with play pots, pans, and food, or baby dolls and associated necessities to care for a child. Children in Montessori schools are often of different ages so the younger children can learn from older students.
Waldorf schools are another alternative approach to education parents may want to consider. Waldorf or Rudolf Steiner education considers the entire child – body, soul, and spirit – and uses educational methods which address each area. It is also based upon the assumption that children go through specific stages in development, and it gears learning to those stages. Waldorf education strives to enable children to develop skills and abilities they’re born with while being non-discriminatory.
Charter schools are often begun by a group of parents with the approval of their state board of education. Unlike traditional school systems, charter schools are run by a board which is elected by the parents of the school’s students rather than by the population as a whole. This type of school chooses their own curriculum, makes their own rules in relation to dress code and discipline, as well homework requirements. They promise to get “back to the basics” of learning and often teaches from a “core curriculum” approach which builds upon a what a child has previously learned rather than injecting new ideas a child hasn’t learned.
Magnet schools are similar to charter schools but are designed to offer a unique learning environment for their students. They teach all basic subjects but will often have a concentration in one subject such as science, math, or technology. To encourage students to excel in this area, magnet schools will choose a curriculum which also emphasizes that subject. Other magnet schools may concentrate on performing arts or offer hands-on activities to help a child learn.
The final alternative learning environment is homeschooling. Parents are the teacher and school is done at home. There is a variety of homeschool curricula available through publishers which specialize in providing it for home-educated students. Anyone considering homeschooling as an option will want to learn their state’s laws regarding homeschooling and follow those laws carefully before pulling their children out of public school systems.
Parents have many reasons for wanting to take their child out of traditional public school systems. They’re looking for alternative schools which will better match their child’s personality, abilities, or interests so their child can excel in life. The above alternative schools are options you may want to look further into before making a decision which alternative school is right for you.
Facility-laundered, third-party laundered and single-use scrubs are ‘cleaner’
A study comparing the aerobic bacterial bioburden associated with surgical scrub attire shows significantly greater child safety contamination among home-laundered attire than scrubs laundered by the healthcare facility, scrubs sent out by the facility to a third-party company for laundering, or single-use/disposable scrubs. In fact, home-laundered scrubs cleaned and ready to wear had as much bacteria present as facility-laundered, third-party laundered and single-use scrubs which had been worn for one day.
Conducted in the spring of 2009, the study was performed by Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., of Bozeman, Mont., and sponsored by Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC. A total of 80 surgical scrub garments, tops and bottoms, prior to use and after use in the operating room for a day, were collected from multiple healthcare facilities across the U.S. They comprised 10 sets of scrubs in each category: single-use; home-laundered; facility-laundered; and third-party laundered.
The study showed no statistically significant difference in bacterial contamination among facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use scrubs prior to use (”clean”), but revealed that the bioburden found on home-laundered scrubs prior to use (”clean”) was significantly greater than on any of the other garments (facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use, non-woven) that had been worn for a day in the operating room.
“According to these results, a healthcare professional beginning his or her shift in home-laundered scrubs would essentially be wearing scrubs with the same quantity of bacteria as the scrubs of a healthcare professional finishing a shift in worn scrubs,” said Heather Beitz, BA MEd, Director of Clinical Research for Molnlycke Health Care.
“This study indicates that home-laundering is not as effective as facility- or third-party laundering in decontaminating surgical scrub attire,” Beitz explained. “Another option, of course, is single-use surgical attire. In addition to eliminating cross-contamination concerns as indicated in this study, single-use scrubs are durable and designed for daily use in a variety of surgical procedures and acute care needs and can reduce replacement costs,” she added.
BARRIER® surgical scrub suits and jackets, manufactured by Molnlycke Health Care, are non-woven, single-use products that provide comfort with the soft feel of cotton. They are available in extended size ranges (S - 4XL), assuring a variety of fits. Departments benefiting from the use of BARRIER non-woven scrubs and jackets are trauma, isolation, ER, NICU (for parents), L&D (for fathers), cath and GI labs, oncology, and radiology/interventional radiology.
With winter just beginning, there is no better time to make simple home improvements that will conserve energy and save money on bills.
While old houses have the greatest room for improvement, there are many simple fixes that can be made to new houses to improve their efficiency for a better atmosphere forchild development.
The author suggests not waiting around for the proposed Cash for Caulkers stimulus program, but to get started now. The article offers free suggestions for improving home efficiency such as…
Whenever you leave the house or go to sleep, lower your thermostat down a bit. It has been said, “If you consistently set your thermostat back at night 10 degrees Fahrenheit, you may reduce your heating bill by 10-20 percent.”
You can take this to the next level, by always keeping the thermostat lower and wearing warmer clothes around the house. I know one guy who keeps his house at 55 degrees during the winter. I can’t say I’d be into that, but I am sure his heating bill is a lot lower than mine!
Lower the temperature on the water heater to 120 degrees. If you have smaller children this could be a safety measure as well. 160 degree water coming out of your faucet can be a bit dangerous. Also, turn off the hot water heater when on vacation.
The article also looks at many inexpensive options for reducing home heating bills…
Open windows during the day - especially if they are south-facing. But close them up at night to keep the heat in.
Install Foam Gaskets behind electric-outlet and switch-plate covers.
“It was so obvious, I can’t believe I never thought of it before,” said Don Hoffman.
“It was definitely a chocolate and peanut butter moment,” added Mike Connolly.
Hoffman and Connolly are two entrepreneurs each owning what seem to be unrelated businesses, however both share a common passion, bringing health and well being into the home in a fun and motivating way. Now, together they are trying to change the way families approach health, fitness and child development.
Hoffman is the owner of Creative Playthings, one of the nation’s oldest and largest children’s backyard play-set manufacturers and retailers. Connolly is the owner of Creative Fitness Solutions, one of the largest quality fitness equipment retailers.
In summer of 2009, Hoffman walked into one of Connolly’s stores looking for a treadmill for his home. When the two met, lengthy discussion regarding the importance of fitness at every age ensued.
Hoffman noted to Connolly that they were essentially in the same business, only Creative Playthings was for kids and The Fitness Store was for adults. In fact, they were sharing many of the same customers who were ultimately buying products for different members of the family for the same goal.
Their shared passion for the importance of health and wellness was evident and the synergy between their two businesses became clear.
In late 2009, Hoffman and Connolly entered a joint venture to bring their two businesses together to form the nation’s first and only family focused exercise and fitness store aimed at giving the whole family fun and motivational exercise options that suit each member of the family’s age and lifestyle.
Resolutions will be the talk of New Year’s parties across the country later this month, and for many people a resolution will provide positive direction for 2010.
For child development, however, psychologists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center recommend this annual practice be approached carefully.
Because children often mimic their parents, the cycle of resolutions — make one, stick to it for a few weeks, then forget it — doesn’t always set a healthy example. But Robert Ammerman, Ph.D., and Wendi Lopez, PsyD, agree that structured goal setting can be beneficial to the whole family.
Goal setting can be an annual family activity. This process teaches children about planning ahead and making commitments.
“Children should make New Year’s goals that are reasonable, measurable and concrete,” explains Dr. Lopez. “‘I will go a week at school without any infractions’ or ‘I will be on the honor roll this upcoming semester.’ Resolutions that are overly ambitious and can’t realistically be achieved should be avoided. Keep them simple, achievable, and positive,” says Dr. Lopez. “Parents should never encourage a goal if it is unhealthy or unattainable,” she says.
Dr. Lopez also recommends parents have similar goals to their child. If a child wants to become healthier, for example, parents should encourage healthy behavior and lead by example, such as buying less junk food. A concrete goal could be playing the Wii Fit three times a week together. This will not only help the child from struggling alone, but will also demonstrate the importance of teamwork and support, she says.
Because children like to see results, Dr. Lopez suggests a sticker chart for young children who can measure their goals on a daily or weekly basis. For older children, weekly rewards may help keep motivation up.
“Making New Year’s resolutions is not essential for children, and there are many other ways for families to bond,” says Dr. Ammerman. “However, the value of goal setting is that we own it and are self-motivated to achieve the goals. When children fulfill a goal or resolution, they feel satisfaction because they have set a goal and met it.”
SOURCE Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
“Resolution day” (Jan. 1) is almost here. Are you ready? Have you decided on your resolutions? For parents, every year offers new joys and challenges. Here are a few child care ideas for increasing the joy — and preparing for the challenges — of parenting in 2010.
Love your child for who they are: Every child is unique with different temperaments and different interests. Every day they are learning and growing - and the new year is a perfect time to take a new look at what makes your child special. You can support them as they struggle to master more difficult skills and celebrate their unique successes with them.
Be a part of playtime: Play is how young children learn about the world and practice new cognitive, emotional, and social skills. A parent can learn a lot about their child’s developing skills and interests by participating in their play. Your questions, ideas, and attention support your child’s curiosity and creativity. Play interactions with you can also help them to develop skills to use when they are playing alone or with peers.
Talk about feelings: Understanding and managing feelings is one of the hardest skills children under five have to tackle. So respect what they are feeling by recognizing their emotions, listening to their thoughts and helping them to work through their emotions.
Be an example: Though your voice, your expressions, your gestures and your actions, your child learns from you how to interact with other people and with the world. You are in a wonderful position to set a positive example for everything from solving problems to showing compassion to buckling seatbelts.
Create routines and stick to them: Children respond to the expected. If you create a bedtime routine that has three steps and you do the same things every night, your child finds comfort in knowing what comes next and will respond in positive ways as a result of sticking to the plan.
Make mealtime special: Whenever possible, make mealtime a time to be together and enjoy a healthy meal. This not only develops a good pattern for eating, but it creates an opportunity to connect as a family.
Make books a part of your child’s life: Make reading fun. Cuddle up. Let your child choose the books. By reading to your children, you are helping them to increase their vocabulary, inspiring their imagination, and setting the groundwork for a love of reading.
With the arrival of the holidays, parents may be wondering how to keep their kids occupied during the long holiday break with children activities. Creative play activities offer plenty of opportunity for fun that’s educational and important to the development of cognitive skills.
Here are some ways to keep creative play at the forefront during your child’s holiday vacation.
Indoor Creative Play
There are endless activities that allow children to engage in indoor creative play. Next time you hear “I’m bored!,” try one of these great activities:
Ask your child questions to help them think creatively about how they might solve their boredom - you may be surprised at what you learn!
Help support your child’s musical development. Using “instruments” like pots and pans can shift their imagination into high gear.
Read together, making sure you take time to look at and describe the pictures to each other.
Outdoor Creative Play
No matter the climate in which you live, there are ways to incorporate creative play into outdoor activities. In cold climates, building snowmen, snow forts, or even participating in the occasional snowball fight (with adult supervision!) are great ways to incorporate creative play into cold-weather fun. These activities help develop children’s problem-solving and leadership skills, while keeping them entertained for hours.
It was Bing Crosby who immortalized a white Christmas in his 1942 hit single, but these days more and more eco-conscious consumers are dreaming of a green Christmas instead. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint for gifts for kids this holiday season, consider these tips from Wake Forest University Director of Sustainability Dedee DeLongpre Johnston:
Use sustainable gift-wrap.
Consider saving and re-using holiday wrapping paper just as your grandmother once did. Or wrap your gifts in pretty fabric that can be used for other purposes. “In my family, we re-gift gift bags again and again,” DeLongpre Johnston says. “Pillowcases can also make pretty gift wraps if done right.”
Decorate with energy-efficient lighting.
While many people still use standard incandescent holiday bulbs, decorative LED lights are now available in a variety of holiday shapes and colors. In addition to having a much longer lifespan than standard lights, LEDs also reduce fire risks because they stay cool to the touch. “This would be one of the areas where you might spend a little more upfront, but save in the long run.” Want to be even greener? Use light-sensor timers to turn your lights on and off.
Give consumable gifts.
Most of us don’t need any more stuff, or as DeLongpre Johnston points out, we’re all “stuffed out.” So consider giving the gift of services instead, or goods that can be consumed. Some ideas include massages, pedicures, tickets to sporting events, gift certificates for restaurants and other similar pampering treats. Other options would be to give consumable gifts that keep on giving all year long like a membership to a Wine of the Month Club or a monthly delivery of seasonal fruits grown locally. Says DeLongpre Johnston: “It doesn’t mean you have to be any less generous.”
Make a donation in someone’s name.
If someone has a passion in life, giving to an organization that supports their cause can be very meaningful. Whether you donate a flock of chicks to support a hungry family through Heifer International or fund the planting of trees through American Forest, you will be giving a gift that gives back and helps preserve the environment at the same time.
Give the gift of time.
Schedule time to get together with friends and family for cookie exchanges or other meaningful holiday events. “We do have the ability as individuals and families to bring whatever intention to this season that we want,” DeLongpre Johnston says. “So we can share meals and share time with one another, and if we’d like to give each other gifts, we can do that too.”
Between summer vacations, spring breaks, fall getaways and the winter holidays, it seems that every season is filled with family travel. So to help parents plan vacations and children activities everyone can enjoy, Marriott International, Inc., one of the world’s leading lodging companies, is offering tips to make the experience one you won’t want to forget.
Family Travel Planning
* Make the process of selecting a destination a democratic one - that way everyone can voice their ideas and opinions.
* Look for special family travel packages and discount offers available in your top-five destinations. This will help determine where you can make the most of your time and your budget.
* Once you’ve selected a destination, get a city-specific travel guide designed for those traveling with children. It will help you find activities everyone can enjoy.
Choosing a Hotel
* Try to select a hotel designed for family travel. With amenities like on-site dining, room service, pools, babysitting services and/or kids’ clubs, high-speed internet access, video game consoles and DVD players, you can give them easy access to kid-friendly fun.
* Choose accommodations with room to roam. If you have teenagers or older children, you can also opt for connecting rooms.
* Select a hotel that’s near the attractions you want to see most. Rather than driving across town, you may be able to walk or take the hotel’s shuttle service to your destination.
If fashion mimics our culture, what does the dawn of a new decade bring for our baby’s child care and fashion? With over 8 years experience in running a successful on-line baby boutique in trendsetting Los Angeles, proprietor Dawn Torress of RecurrentDreams sought out to answer this question. “Parents have a new sense of social awareness, and are optimistic for what the future holds for our children”, states D. Torress. “They continue to want the best for their babies, but what’s changing is what they consider ‘best.’”
The new “best” is unique baby clothes that are free-trade, sweat shop free, preferably made in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Europe or Australia. And “best” is even better, if it’s eco-friendly, made from sustainable fabrics, organics and bamboo. “These next genesis fabrics are full of color and are luxuriously soft for baby’s delicate skin. Long gone are the drab scratchy organic wools of yesteryear” says Torress.
Styles are preciously classic yet relaxed as we emerge from recession. Warm pinks and sky blues are modern again with aargyle and kimono side ties. Colorful whimsy prints are seen on traditional baby rompers. Think orange owls, rich chocolate trims, turquoise guitars and animal prints. Little girl dresses take their inspiration from the storybooks of renaissance princesses and a midsummer’s night dream. “Celebrity favorites are California designers Luna Luna Copenhagen, Made Sky Kids and Toni Tierney Designs. They are constantly mixing things up season to season”, states D. Torress. “Miraculously, they have managed to keep their prices at bay, while maintaining high quality and excellent work conditions for their sewers.”
Will the twenty tens be as fashion iconic as were the 60’s and 70’s? Then again, when all is said and done, every generation laughs at the old fashions and follows the new; and babies base most of their fashion taste on what doesn’t itch!
The following is being issued by Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International:
I will never forget that the only reason I’m standing here today is because somebody, somewhere stood up for me when it was risky. Stood up when it was hard. Stood up when it wasn’t popular. And because that somebody stood up, a few more stood up. And then a few thousand stood up. And then a few million stood up. And standing up, with courage and clear purpose, they somehow managed to change the world. Obama, speech, January 2008
Today is 20th Anniversary of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, (UNCRC) , adopted by all the countries of the world (193) except the USA and Somalia. The CRC sets out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children adopted on 20 November 1989 (the 30th anniversary of its Declaration of the Rights of the Child), adopted by 193 countries, except the United States of America and Somalia. President Obama has described the failure of the USA to adopt human rights of children for child education thought the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as ‘embarrassing’ and has committed to change it. (Walden University Presidential Youth Debate, October 2008).
You can’t let your failures define you — you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. Obama, National Address to America’s Schoolchildren, September 2009
The United States has had many challenges of human rights and people have stood up for the equal human rights for all people. Our commitment to human rights continuously leads us to change. In the US people owned other people as property through slavery until we stood up and demanded a change.
Slavery ended in 1865 with the 13th Amendment of the Constitution that declared, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude…shall exist within the United States.” Today, the federal anti-slavery statutes were updated in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, P.L. 106-386, which expanded the federal statutes’ coverage to cases in which victims are enslaved through psychological, as well as physical, coercion.
SOURCE Ariana-Leilani Children’s Foundation International
Think your kids won’t eat healthy foods? Think again for child development. A preliminary report of the Chefs in Schools Initiative by the Harvard School of Public Health, funded by Project Bread, proves that kids not only like healthy school meals, but actually eat more of the healthy foods than they would if they were eating a traditional school meal.
The study sought to analyze the value of the Chefs in Schools Initiative, which was launched by Project Bread in 2007 with the help of the Office of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Public Schools, and the Boston Public Health Commission. The concept behind the Initiative was simple: over 74% of the nearly 56,000 Boston public school children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, which include breakfast and lunch.
Clearly, many of these children come from families that struggle to put food on the table, making these children especially vulnerable to hunger and under-nutrition. The Initiative sought to make cutting-edge nutrition available to these children as an ordinary part of their school day.
To accomplish this, the partnership hired Chef Kirk Conrad, a master chef and graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, to work with the Lilla G. Frederick Middle School in Dorchester and the Mario Umana Middle School in East Boston. Chef Kirk, as Conrad is known by all, was charged with serving healthy, cost-effective meals that kids love to eat and creating an environment that signaled to kids, their teachers, and parents that school meals were crucial to their overall health and learning. Chef Kirk’s menus feature fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats — and remove excess fat, sodium, and sugar. These healthy meals are cooked from scratch, using fresh ingredients and herbs to enhance taste, by Conrad, who has also trained a willing kitchen staff in his techniques, who regularly test the palatability of new dishes with their students as they would guests in a restaurant.
As the final step in the rollout of the Initiative, the Healthy Lunch Study analyzed the results of this innovative program. The study compared Boston middle schools receiving the district’s traditional school lunch with the middle schools participating in the Chefs in Schools Initiative who received the healthy lunch. Results were collected from 3,188 trays and researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health stated their preliminary findings as significant:
Over three times as many students ate the vegetables at the Chefs schools as compared with the control schools.
Among students who ate vegetables, students at the Chefs schools ate on average about 30% more of their vegetables.
When only 1% white milk was served instead of chocolate milk, students still drank the same amount of milk.
Meals had over 50% more whole grains at the Chefs schools compared with the control schools.
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and the Anthem Blue Cross Live Like a Champion Tour rolled into Magnolia Science Academy in Hollywood, California today to teach students the importance of eating healthy recipes for kids and staying active in a fun, interactive way.
As a part of his appearance, the nine time X Games gold medalist unveiled a new addition to the tour, a “Tony Hawk: RIDE Like a Champion” interactive video game experience, which allows players of all skill levels to step onto a revolutionary skateboard shaped controller and use their bodies to perform grinds, ollies and grabs like the pros.
“As a member of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, it’s an honor to have Tony Hawk: RIDE featured in the ‘Live Like a Champion’ mobile tour and to be able to share the sport I love with the students of California,” said Tony Hawk. “I am committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and Tony Hawk: RIDE is one more way to encourage people to engage in an activity they can enjoy on their own, as well as with their family and friends.”
Live Like a Champion is an award-winning initiative from the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and Anthem Blue Cross. The 16-city statewide tour features interactive games and challenging sports-themed activities that encourage students to bring out their “inner champion.”
New findings presented today show that CONCERTA is the only stimulant medication with data that demonstrate a significant treatment effect on attention at one hour and through 12.5 hours in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a common and treatable child behavioral problem characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity(1) that is estimated to affect about 5 million children(2) in the United States.
McNeil Pediatrics(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., presented the data at the U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress (Poster 303: Time Course of Treatment Effect of Concerta® [OROS® Methylphenidate] in Children with ADHD).
“Untreated ADHD symptoms can present challenges throughout a child’s day, so new findings on onset and duration of effect are important to understand,” said Matthew Brams*, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist in Houston, Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and an investigator who participated in one of the studies. “There’s benefit in medication that acts quickly and lasts through the day, providing treatment coverage when a child may need it in the early morning, through the activities of the day and into the early evening hours.”
The results presented today showed significant improvements in attention with CONCERTA® versus placebo as measured by a validated, time-sensitive math test administered throughout the day.
At one hour post-dose, subjects who received CONCERTA® attempted 38 percent more math problems compared with baseline (from 75.8 problems attempted before treatment to 104.4 problems attempted after treatment), while those receiving placebo showed no change from baseline (from 80.6 problems attempted before treatment to 80 problems attempted after treatment).
The results were statistically significant throughout the study’s interim time points, from the first testing point at one hour after dosing (p<0.0001) through to the final assessment at 12.5 hours (p<0.0001). Accuracy, as measured by percentage of problems correct, was similar for both treatment groups and was consistent across the period of observation (placebo, 92.1 percent to 93.5 percent and CONCERTA®, 94.0 percent to 94.3 percent).
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